THE 30th Africa Cup of Nations gets underway today with a host of Premier League stars eager to lead their countries to glory.

Published 16th January 2015

The three-week tournament takes place in Equatorial Guinea after Morocco pulled out of staging the festival of football over fears of the spread of Ebola.

Thankfully, a lack of hotel rooms for teams arriving in the tiny Central African nation seems to be the biggest dilemma facing the tournament.

It may have top-flight bosses from these shores praying for an early exit for their prized assets.

STAR: Yaya Toure will be one of the highlights of the tournament [GETTY]

But Man City's £28m capture Wilfried Bony, new teammate Yaya Toure, brother Kolo of Liverpool and Newcastle's Cheick Tiote will be doing their utmost to lead Ivory Coast to only their second tournament win.

Equally desperate for their country's first ever title are the Senegalese trio of Southampton's Sadio Mane, Newcastle's Papiss Cisse and West Ham's Cheikhou Kouyate.

In total, 16 players from Premier League sides have been called up by their nations with the opening game between hosts Equatorial Guinea and Congo kicking off at 4pm today.